Philippines protests forced labor-related tariffs
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has protested the 12.5 percent tariff imposed by the United States, arguing the Philippines does not rely on forced labor to manufacture its exported products.
Manuel Mogato | July 27, 2026
MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has protested the 12.5 percent tariff imposed by the United States, arguing the Philippines does not rely on forced labor to manufacture its exported products.
“The Philippines already has existing laws prohibiting forced labor and continues to strengthen its legal and institutional framework through the development of appropriate mechanisms to effectively investigate and address goods allegedly produced wholly or in part through forced labor,” DFA said in a statement.
It was a response to Washington’s announcement that a 12.5 percent tariff was imposed on Philippine goods due to forced labor issues. (Also read: The price of doing business with Trump’s America)
“The Philippines has long demonstrated that its locally produced goods, including those exported to the U.S., do not rely on forced labor,” the foreign affairs department stressed.
“We will continue to engage with US counterparts on this matter.”
For her part, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said they will continue engaging with their US counterpart, insisting the Philippines has a firm policy against forced labor.
“In the meantime, we will continue to value our strategic relationship with the US, especially in ensuring that our trade remains intact, resilient, and stable,” Roque said.
“This is especially true since Philippine exports to the US, particularly in electronics, semiconductors, and key agricultural products, support US supply-chain stability.”
On Friday, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced a 12.5-percent tariff on the Philippines after a directive from US President Donald Trump.
The USTR said the Philippines was among America’s top 60 trading partners under investigation as it cracked down on imports made with forced labor that were found to be harmful to American commerce. (Also read: Trade deal: Trump gets what he wanted)
The USTR said the Philippines “has failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition.”
Apart from the Philippines, 40 other economies are subject to the 12.5-percent tariff.
“The US has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” said USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and a distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer added.
The USTR said it would exempt certain products from the tariff, including goods that cannot be produced in sufficient quantities or at reasonable prices in the US, and products that could cause economy-wide disruptions if they were subjected to the tariffs.
Philippine goods exempt from the 12.5-percent tariff include most of the country’s major exports to the US, such as semiconductors, its top export.
Also exempted are agricultural commodities such as coconuts, pineapples, and bananas, as well as raw minerals such as nickel ores and concentrates. (Also read: Frustrations over US unpredictability lure Thailand closer to “big brother” China)
The US remains the Philippines’ largest export market, accounting for $13.46 billion, or 15.9 percent, of the country’s total exports in 2025.
Philippine imports to the US have been subject to a 10-percent tariff since February, after the US Supreme Court declared the Trump administration’s previous enforcement of reciprocal tariffs unconstitutional.
 | A guest post by
|